Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-11-08
QUEER wRleeLlNo PETS.
Tho Live Ornaments Worn by Some whim-
sicai Society Women.

: wore gorgeous spiders in their loft
hats, and to judge from appearance
the California horned toad is comm,
. into fashion," said Los Angelo
jeweler "Whys Simply because
lady came in the store the other da,
aud left orders to have gold banc
put around the horned toad she brough
in and to have il locked with small
gold paddock attached to chain and
pin, and though / did not ask any
i questions, assume that the animal il
to be hat ornament. l have heard OF
such thinge before. The other day."
| continued the speaker, al saw man
take his watch from his pocket and
upon the end of the double chain
daugled small but frisky horned
toad. SO it is evident that the little
| animals are in fashion,
The variety of uses To which animals
are put, living or dead. is somewhat as
founding. aud fashion often dictates
nsagcs that otherwise would he repug
nant to the refined taste. Wearing
liv ng animals upon the headgear is no
new thing--is, in fact,as old as anything.
Lizards were worn upon the head by an
cient Egyptians, the curious gecko be-
ing the one most commonly used. and
in India to-day native women fasten
large living butterflies upon their hair.
Some years ago young woman APP
peared at a fashionable Newport hotel.
and when out upon the drive wore
upon her riding-hat an enormous slow
moving beetle that. like the horned
toad referred to. WAS fastened to pin
by chain, and paddock. | after
ward saw this unfortunate insect in
jewelers. at New York. where it had
been laid mp for repairs. 1t was
most disagreeahle object. but ate its
supply of sugar rs if il enjoyed life
Its owner succeeded in advertising her.
self. whether this was her object or
not; but all pets come TO grief in the
end and this proved no exception. II
40 happened that the wearer went to
an entertainment out of town one even
ing, aud TO astonish the natives wore
the big beetle upon her hat During
the performance the insect. probably
being aroused by the light or heat. be-
gan to walk about and caught the eve
OF countryman sitting behind. who,
not up 10 the vagaries of fashion,
hoaIsely whispered SO that it was heard
all over, Excuse me. miss. but there's
bug m your bonnet and forthwith
dashed the unfortunate beetle to the
ground. ending its career then and
there.
In Southern countries fire-hies are
often utilized for decorative purposes
by the ladies of fashion, being espe-
cially adapted Tor garden parties AT
night, and probably the most remark
able costume ever seen was worn by a
Cuban lady at an entertainment few
years ago. II WAS bal masuue, and
part of the Aoc ring was laid in the
open air. the bright moonlight being
quite sufficient for all purposes. She
appeared rs Might. and was almost
covered with iire-flies, each of which
was caught by n delicate silver wire
and held so that it's light was plainly
seen. The effect of this display was
magnificent, the living lights cleaning
and twinkling like So many diamonds.
In the North, tire-flies have been
often used by ladies to decorate their
hair at night, and famous fop of
Mexico always wore number about
his sombrcro. The curious walking
sticks (mautis) and the walking-leaf
are sometimes used in the countries in
which they are found rs decorations. !
Not only is the living beetle used but |
dead beetles are IN dc into studs and |
pins, the rich Brazilian green varieties |
being most valued. In Europe, or
rather Northern Africa. the scarabeus |
is esteemed, nd models in stone are |
used as seals and charms. Thousands |
of these objects are sold to tourists az |
having been found in graves and tombs
when in reality they were manufaetur-
ed in New England Git is needless to
mention the State) for this trade.
In Colorado | saw n cow boys som
oIero decorated with the stuffed skin
lf rattlesnake, the latter being used
instead of hatband, presume that
HE wearer was "Rattlcsaako Bill"
are extremely fashionable
when made into belts and bags, and as
book covers they are not unattracl.ve.
so with sharks; the skin of certain
'alioties is used for number of pur-
'oses, as belts. pocket-books, book
binding, etc. 1t is curious that fish
Gales are not used more in decoration.
some are remarkably beautiful, espec-
ally those If the tarpon, which look
more like trade dollar than any thing
lse, the silver having been seeming
y poured upon them. They are some
INES made into chatelaines, and have |
card of dado being made up of them
he tarPon il rightly named the silver
ing, and Is the most beautiful of all
IS kinda cleaning mass of silver and
he typo of agility and power. - Cor.
ida Francisco Cal c
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